Telephone system.



.E. E. CLEMENT. TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLiCAT'GN FILED AUG- !8, 1905.

)- 1,223,3'69, Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1- E.' E. CLEMENT.

I TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

- I APPLICATION FILED AUG. 33, 1905 1,223,369 Patented Apr. 24,191?

' 2 SHEETS-*SHEH 2.

ingi. i 10 y invention relates to STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E, CEEIENIQF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBTA, ASSIGN'OB, BYMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '{OSJQAMES GARFIELD, TRUSTEE, F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that LEDWABD E. CLEMENT, acitizen of the United States, residing at WVashington, in'the Districtof Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelephone Systems, of which the following is a specification, referencebe ing had therein to the accompanying drawtelephone systemsandparticularly to exchange systems employing common battery. It has forits object the simplification of the exchange switchboard and its methodof operation. The salient features of my invention are: A switchboardwithout answering jacks, and having what are known as single cordterminals, instead of pairs of plugs and cords. Each cord circuitterminates at one end in a plug and at the other end in an automaticswitch containing line terminals correspond- I ing to the answerimg jackterminals on an ordinary switchboard. When a line calls its answeringterminal in each of the automade switches to which it is multipledbecomes busy, and the switch thereupon turns its arm to the contacts ofthe. calling line, where they stop, thereby connecting the said callinglinewith the cord circuit and its terminal plug. A signal is associatedwith the :cordand'is displayed when the subscriber .connects therewith.It will be obvious that I may have allthe subscribers? lines in aparticular group multipled to all the cord circuits associated with thatgroup, or I may split up the subscribers among widely sepa-- .rated cordswitches, in such fashion that calls will be more or less uniformlydistributed among the cords and among the 40 operators.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying ,drawings in whichFigure 1 is a diagram. showing two subscribers stations and the cordcircuit apparatus at the'central station for connecting them: and Fig. 2is a supplemental diagram showing subscribers lines multipled into aplurality of switches and thereby gaining access to a plurality of linkcircuits. Fig. 2 also shows the wipers of different switches setangularly apart around the spindle, so'that no two switches will, testthe same line at the same time.

In the drawing A and A are two sub- Specification of Letters Patent.

the switch hook.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Application filed August 18,1905. Serial No. 274,765.

scribers stations each provided with theusual talking and signalingapparatus, which of itself forms no part of the present invention. Ateach station whenthe talking apparatus is in use the circuit of the lineis completed through the switch hook, and when not in use the circuitfor ringing current is completed through a condenser and As both lines12 and 3- 1 are identical I will describe only the first. The wires 1and 2 terminate at the central oflice upon contacts n, n of the cutoifrelay N which normally connects them to branches 9, 10 leadingrespectively to the; line relay M and thence by wire 12 to the main,battery B, for the former, and by wire 10 to round for the latter. Therelay M through its armature m controls the connection of batterythrough wire 12 to branch 11 and the test terminals 9'' of the switch P.

\Vhen the cut-oif relay N is energized, it divorces the line wires fromthe calling branches 9 and 10 and puts them onto the talking branches 5and 6, leading respectively tothe sleeve and spring contacts j and 7" ofthe multiple jacks J and to corresponding contacts 7' 7' in the switchP. I have indicated the contactsof the switch collectively by the letterJ, because these contacts correspond to the answering iacks of theordinary switchboard.

The switch P comprises a spindle 7; car-- rying the contact wipers 792), p which as the spindle is rotated sweep over 'the circular periodsof contacts J, thus making contact successively with the set belongingto each line on that switch. The

spindle is arranged to be constantly rotated by means of a driving shaftand pulley 79' shown'as receiving their motion from a belt.= Totheffdriving 'shaft'the spindle p is normally connected by the coupling19 p, which comprises the part 39 fixed on the driving shaft and thecomplementary part 72 'splined on the spindle. It is intended that whenthe coupling is disengaged the spindle shall be stopped instantly, andfor this purpose a fixed stop 7) is provided,

against which the lower roughened face of the clutch disk impinges asits upper roughened face leaves the part 77 The coupling and uncouplingis accomplished through the medium. of a magnet. 19 controlling an ar-2? ,.aas of the calling line.

and thence for talking purposes by conductor 17 to the tip of thecalling plug P. The spring 72 goes to wire 16, by condenser C to if wire18 and to the sleeve of the calling plug P. Spring 7). goes to the wire20 thence to the normally closed back contacts of the.

20 cord-circuit relay S thence by Wire 21 to the normally closed backcontact of relay S thence by wire 19 to magnet 79 and also to lamp .9and ground through wire 31. The relays S and S are in a bridge 23, 24across 25 the answering end 15, 16 of the cord circuit, with a mainbattery B between them; while -'the relays S and S are in a similarbridge 27,-. 28 ac 'rossthe calling end 17, 18 of the cord circuit, andalso with the battery be- 80 tween them.

- ing' statement of operations.

"Suppose subscriber A'desires to be confii nected with subscriber A. Heremoves his receiver'from the hook, thereby closing his line circuit,and causing current to flow through the following path: B, 12, M, 9, n,'1, substation, 2, n, 10, and ground to B. 'Relay M thereupon pulls upand puts the battery on contacts j through wires 12, 11. The switches Pare constantly driven, and are preferably driven oil the same shaft, sothat they are not only all moving at the'same rate of speed, but thewiper arms are set in 5 successive angular positions, so that no twoswitch arms willcome on the same contac't fat the same instant. Thefirst switch arm g arriving at a contact y' 'of the callin fne completesthe circuit as follows: E, 12, i.'-'11, j*, p272, 20, 21, 19, p andground; also from 21 through the armature of S to a,

'31, and, through the armature of S to,

ground. The magnet 72 instantly pulls up fi gind the lamp .9 lights.

When the magnet ip'ulls up it disengages the clutch p from 5am.revolving part 7) and engages it with i -the stop 72*, the spindle andits contacts then remaining stationary resting upon the con The lamp 8lights and continues to burn until the operator completes the connectionby inserting the calling plug P in the jack J in the line 3, 4. ,]Theoperator has a listening and ringing of the ordinary type, and by meanslamp 8 also takes current "ground. Pulling up its armature, The circuitconnections remaining unmentinned will best be understood by thefollow-' thereofascertains from the calling subscriber the numberwanted. She their tests the jack J, and inserts the plug P ringing thewanted subscriber A in the usual manner. As soon as the spindle stoppeda circuit was completed for the relay S as follows: B, 26, S 2 1, 16, 7232 j N, and ground. This circuit at once energizes the cut-off relay N,which pulling up disconnects (the line relay M, and puts the line 75wires 1, 32 on the talking wires 5, 6. The metallic circuit being thencompleted the relay S takes current instantly over the following path:B, 26, S 24, 16, 72 71*", j 6, 72, 2, substation, 1, 12 5, 7' 72 p, 15,23, S, ground at 25. This pulls up the armature of S, and completes thelocal circuit for the magnet 72 as follows: B, 26, armature of S 22,armatureof S, 19, p and ground. The

from the same 35 source and remains lighted, but it will be observedthat having thus connected with the line the switch has taken controlthereof,

.and except forthe cut-otf relay the line is clear in to thecordcircuit.- Now, when the .90 plug P is finally inserted in the wantedline jack, the relay S takes current 'from the battery through cordconductor 18 and the line conductor 8 to cut-oft 'relay N and the relayS disconnects'the wire 20, puts battery on wire 29 for the supervisorysignal s and takes the ground ofl the wire 31 from the lamp 8. In otherwords, the calling lamp signal is extinguished and retired by the act ofthe operator in completing the connection.

When the subscribers have finished and hang up, the two relays S and Slose current and let go their armatures. This on the part of the formerbreaks the-battery circuit to the magnet 72, which thereupon lets go itsarmature, throws back the clutch and-starts the spindle p ,to rotatingagain with constant rapidity. The instant the wipers pass 110 ofi theline contacts j j, the relay N loses current, and the line conditionsshown in the drawing are restored, subscriber A being then free to make'another call. On the other hand, relay S when it releases completes thecircuit of the supervisory lamp 8 as" follows: B 26, 29, 30, s andground. Thesubscriber Acannot be hung up therefore because if theoperator carelessly leaves the plug in the jack he can callher'attention by flashing the lamp. i

It is to be understood that each switch P contains the terminals of alarge number of lines, as for instance 100. contemplate connecting theselines so that the same group will not appear together in more than oneswitch, that is if each line has 10 multiples, the first 100 lines mayhavetheir number one multiple terminals grouped together in the sameswitch P, but all their other multiple terminals would be divided upamong nine other switches,'.or more according to.

1. In a telephone exchange systennthe' combination with a group oftelephone lines extending from sub-stations to an exchange, of aplurality of. cord connectors at the exchange, each including a manuallyoperated'terminal plug at one end of the cord circuit and having atraveling switch at the sweeping over fixed line contacts, means fordriving said switches simultaneously with cord circuit with thetelephone line of a calling subscriber.

2. In a telephone exchange system, thecombination with a group oftelephone lines. extending from sub-stations to an exchange,,

of a plurality of cord connectors at the exchange, each including amanually operated In telephone exchange system, the combination with agroup of telephone hnes extending from sub-stations to an exchange,

of a plurality of-link connectors at the exchange,- each including'amanually operated terminal at one. end of thelink circuit and having atraveling switch at the other end of the link circuit with its Wipersweeping over fixed line contacts, means for driving said switchessimultaneously with their Wipers angularly displaced in sequence,whereby no two wipers will touch contacts of the same linesimultaneously, means serving to arrest the operation of a travelingswitch and cause it to connect a link circuit with the telephone line ofa calling subscriber, and'a signal at the exchange controlled by saidsuhscribers apparatus touindicate the fact other end of the cord circuitwith its wiper OfzlllS connection with a link circuit.

5. A telephone exchange system whose telephone lines have connectingjacks and their wipers angularly. displaced in sequence, whereby no twowipers will touch. contacts of the same line simultaneously, and. meansserving to arrest the operation of a traveling switch and cause it toconnect a wipers angularly displaced in sequence,

whereby no two Wipers will touch contacts of the same linesimultaneously, and means serving to arrest the operation of a traveling switch-and cause it to connect a cord circuit with the telephoneline of a calling sub criber, and a signal at the exchange con trolledby said subscribers apparatusto indicate the fact of his connection witha cord circuit. 7

3. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a group oftelephone lines extending from sub-stations to an exchange, ofapluralitybf link connectors at the exchange, each including a manuallyoperated terminal atone end of the link circuit and having a travelingswitch at the other end have cord circuits provided with connectingplugs for insertion within said ja'cks,-selective switching mechanism incircuit relation with the lines for uniting calling telephone lines withidle cord circuits'and including traveling answering terminals of thecord circuits and {multipled telephone line terminal contacts engaged bysaid answering ter minals, means for driving a plurality of saidanswering terminals simultaneously but in sequence with respect to theirpath of travel, and calling subscribers superv1s-,

ory signaling apparatus connected with the cord circuits, substantiallyas described.

6. A telephone exchange system whose telephone lines have connectingjacks and have cord circuits-provided with connecting plugs, selectiveswitching mechanism in circuit relation with thelines for unitingcalling telephone lines with idle cord circuits and including travelinganswering terminals of the cord circuits and multipledtelephone lineterminal contacts engaged by said answering terminals, means for drivinga plurality of said answering terminals simultaneously but in sequencewith respect to their path of travel, and -relay mechanism connectedwith each cord circuit and govern of the link circuit, with its wiperssweeping over "fixed line contacts, means for driving said switchessimultaneously with their wipers angularly displaced in sequence,whereby no two wipers will touch contacts of the same linesimultaneously, and'means serving to arrest the operationof a travelingswitch and cause it to connect a linkcircuit with the telephone line ofa calling subscriber.

ing the selective switching mechanism to release .the same,substantially as described.

7. In a telephone exchange system, the

combination with a plurality of telephone lines extending fromsubstations to an exchange, of cord connectors at the exchange foruniting telephone lines in telephonic con nection, each connector havinga manually.

operated terminal plug, while each line has a switch for receiving saidplug, traveling switches also constituting terminals of said cordconnectors, multipled terminals of said lines arranged in cotiperativerelation with said switches, means .for driving a plurality ofsaid'swi'tches simultaneously but out of line with each other, so. thatno two switches will come upon multiple terminals of the same linesimiiltaneously, and means for arresting said switches when connectedwith the terminals of a calling line, substantially described.

8. In a signaling system, the combination with a plurality ofsubscribers stations, of cord circuits to which said stations areadapted to be connected, the number of said cord circuits being lessthan the number of the said subscribers stations, selective meanscorresponding in number to that of the said cord circuits for connectingany of said stations with any of said cord circuits and continuouslydriven means for actuating said selective. means in common, withconnecting means for each selective means, arranged to producesequential travel, whereby no two stations can be connected to the samecord circuit. I

9. In a signaling system, the combinatigi with a subscribers station, ofsignaling conductors and a set of movable contacts fixed with relationto each other, a signal whereby a subscriber indicates a desire forcoinmunication, and means for controlling said movable contacts, saidset of movable contacts comprising contacts for connecting saidsignaling conductors with said subscribers station and a contact adaptedto close a circuit through said means for controlling the said set ofcontacts and through said signal simultaneously with the connection ofthe subscribers station with the signaling conductor and means actuatedby current in the signaling circuit for closing a local circuit throughsaid signal and means for controlling said movable contacts-but notpassing through any of the contacts of said set.

10. Ina signaling system, the combination with a subscribers station, ofsignaling conductors, a signal for indicating the desire-of thesubscriber for connection, a set ofmovable contacts fixed. with relationto each other, a common batteryadapted tosupply signaling current to.connected stations, and means for controlling said movable contacts,said set of movable contacts comprising contacts for connecting saidsignal conductors with said subscribers station and a contact adapted toclosecircuits through said common battery, said signal and said meansfor controllingsaid movable contacts simultaneously with the connection7 of' the subscribers station with the signal con ductor and meansactuated by current in the signaling circuit for closing a local circuitthrough said common battery, said signal and said means for controllingthe movable contact but not passing through any of the contacts of saidset. j

11. In a signaling system, the combination with a subscribers station,of signaling conductors and a set of movable contacts.

fixed with relation to each other, a signal.

whereby a subscriber indicates a desire for communication, and means forcontrolling said movable contacts, said set of movable contactscomprising contacts for connecting saidsignaling conductors with saidsubscribers station and a contact adapted to close it circuit throughsaid means for con trolling the said set of contacts and through saidsignal simultaneously with the conncction of the subscribefs stationwith the signaling conductors and contacts at the subscribers stationfor controlling the circuit through the means for controlling the saidset of movable contacts.

' 12. In a signaling system, the combination with a subscribers station,of signaling conductors and a set of lovable con tacts fixed withrelation to eachothcr, a signal whereby a subscriber indicates a desirefor communication, and means for controlling said movable contacts, saidset of movable contacts comprising contacts [or connecting saidsignaling conductors with said subscribers statidn and a contact adaptedto .close a circuit through said means for" controlling the said set ofcontacts and through said signal simultaneously with the connectionof'the subscribers station with the signaling conductors, the saidsignal and the said means for controlling the said set of contacts beingconnected in parallel and contacts at'the subscribers station forcontrolling the circuit through the means for controlling the said setof movable contacts.

13. In a signaling system, the combination with a subscribers stationhaving a receiver hook, of signalingiconductors and a set of movablecontacts fixed with relation to each other, a signal whereby asubscriber indicates a desire for communication. and means forcontrolling said movable contacts, said set of movable contactscomprising contacts for connecting said signaling conductors with saidsubscribers station and a contact adapted ;to close a circuit throughsaid means for controlling the said set of contacts and through saidsignal simultaneously with the connection of the subscribers an, tionwith the signaling conductors and corn tacts at the subscribers stationactuated by the receiver hook for controlling the said means forcontrolling the said set of movable contacts.

14, In a signaling system the combination with a subscribers stationhaving a receiver hook, of signalingconductors and a set of movablecontacts fixedgwitla relation to each other, a signal whereby asubscriber indicates a desire for communication, and means forcontrolling said movable contacts, said set of movable contacts comprising contacts for connecting said s' naling conductors with saidsubscribers station and a contact adapted to close a circuit throughsaid means for controlling the .said set of contacts and through saidsignal simultaneously with the connection of the subscrlb ers stationwith the signaling conductors and contacts at the subscr bers stationactuated by the receiver hook for controlhng the said means forcontrolling the said set of movable contacts.

15. In a signaling system, the combination with a pluralityoi'subscribers stations, of signaling conductors extending from each ofsaid stations, selective conductors corresponding to each subscribersstation, other sets of signaling conductors selective devices forconnecting the conductors extendmg from the subscribers stations withthe.

said other sets of signaling conductors, the signaling and selectiveconductors corresponding to each station being connected with each ofthe said selective devices, a circuit for each of the selective devicesadapt-' ed to control its movement, the circuits for controlling themovement of the selective devices being adapted to be initially closedthrough one of said selective conductors and means for breaking thecircuit through the last mentioned conductor upon the establishment ofthe signaling circuit throuh a selective device.

16. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a. plurality.of lines, ofa lesser plurality of link circuits, traveling switches, onefor eachlink circuit, a terminal of each line in the path of each ofsaid switches, means for causing all idle answering switches to pass insuccession over the terminals of any given line, means made active ininitiating a call in any one of said lines for automatically causing thefirst arriving one of said answering switches to stop and makeconnection therewith, means for preventing any other switch fromestablishing a connection with the terminals of a line already engaged,means for subsequently releasing a connected switch, and means formaking it available "for the common use of the other lines only after ithas resumed its proper sequential position among the other idleanswering switches in their relationto the terminals of any given line.

.17. In-a telephone system the combination with a plurality of lines, ofconnecting circuits, less in number than the lines, a plurality ofcalling line finders, one for each connecting circuit, means forsimultaneously moving them, means for always maintaining them in fixedrelation out of line with each other during their movemen terminals ofall the lines positioned so as to be engaged in succession by all of themoving calling-line finders, means for causing a single calling linefinder to stop in engagement with the terminal of a calling line, andmeans for so changing the condition of an engaged terminal as to preventany other calling .line fihdfir from stopping in engagement therewit 18%In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of telephone line terminals,a lesser plurality of idle link circuit brushes, means forsimultaneously moving all of said link.

circuit brushes so that each brush always approaches the terminals of aplurality of lines from which the preceding brush is receding,

whereby the terminal of any line will be engaged by one of saidtraveling brushes in arelatively. small movement thereof, and means forstopping any one or more of said traveling brushes independently of theothers.

19. In a telephone exchange system, the

combination with a plurality of cooperating movable switches, of meansfor moving them, a greater plurality of relatively stationary circuitcontacts with any of which any of said movable switches may connect,means for maintaining a sequential relation. between the positions ofall moving switches such that each moving switch. next approaches theterminal of a. different circuit, and means for permitting any one ofsaid movable switches to remain in engagement with a stationary contactindependent of the movement of the others and later to continue itsmovement in its proper sequential relation thereto.

20. In a telephone-exchange system, a plurality of line contacts, aplurality of idle link I circuits, atraveling contact for each link

